The Broken Princess

Caelum's Arrival

The door shut soundly behind Sabrina as she walked out. Eliora continued to trace the stone around her neck. So Caelum was finally coming home. She could finally see him again after six long years.

Eliora brought the cup of tea to her lips, inhaling the scent before downing the liquid. Caelum was finally coming home. She was now unable to focus on her book anymore due to her raring excitement.

While Eliora remained in her room, Caelum made his way to the king's office. Entering the palace once again for the first time in years felt like a dream to Caelum. The place looked the same and different at the same time.

It was the same old castle he knew but some aspects of it had changed. Some statues he had no memory of stood at various points of the castle and the overall interior was different. The royal estate was made up of several buildings, one of such being the castle where the royal family resided in. It was at the centre of the estate and the building stood tall. Even from the town, it was easy to sight. Official meetings and audiences with the king were also held there. The west wing of the building was where Eliora's room was located.

Caelum made his way in, using memory to locate the king's office. The layout of the building was a bit like a maze, a security measure for the royal family in case of an attack. During his first visit to the palace, he'd struggled for over two hours trying to locate the king's office. He was eventually helped out by a maid his age.

Servants stared at him with curiosity as he made his way. Most of these faces he didn't recognize. The king's wing was less crowded than the entrance, except for a few guards here and there. He'd half been expecting to have a confrontation with them but was surprised when they let him pass without so much as a query. There was no one guarding the door leading to the king's office so Caelum proceeded to knock at the door.

Shuffling sounded on the other side before a deep voice called out 'Come in.'

Caelum walked in shocked to see the king looking rather disheveled. The first couple of bottons of his shirt were undone and his hair was in disarray. Documents that were probably supposed to be on his desk were littered on the floor.

"Caelum?" The king said wide eyed as he stared Caelum. "This is surprise, I didn't expect you to report in so early, I thought you'd want to spend time with your family."

"Since I'm back now there's always time for me to spend time with them."

"Is that so?" The king chuckled. "Viola might not be so happy about that."

"She'll be fine."

There was a long pause before the king spoke.

"I understand all returning knights are supposed to pay their respects to the king but I get a feeling there's more to your visit today." The king said, his tone turning serious.

Nothing gets past this man. Caelum sighed.

"I came here today to ask if it would be possible for me to return to my post as the princess' guard."

Caelum feigned confidence as he spoke but deep down he was nervous about his request.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"Why not?!" Caelum asked wide eyed, his tone going a pitch higher. "My apologies."

"A personal guard spends the most time with his master than anyone else. Meaning you'll be by her side around the clock. You know what it entails for a man and woman to spend that much time together, don't you? There was no issue with you guarding the princess before because she was still a child then but things have changed now. You're both adults now. You don't really expect me to let you continue as her guard, do you?" The king said with all seriousness. "In the first place you must've figured why I had you participate in the war despite being as inexperienced as you were."

Caelum clenched his teeth as the king spoke. Deep down he'd known the only reason he was sent away was to keep him away from the princess but hearing the truth said out loud angered him for some reason. He hadn't even transitioned when he set out for battle, he could've died. All because the selfish king was trying to monopolize his daughter.

"You had an eighteen year old who hadn't even transitioned sent to war for that reason?"

"I had faith in your strength. I knew you'd survive." The king answered simply. "You might not be able to guard my daughter anymore but as an 'MVP' from the recent war you'll be granted a position of importance within the army. If you wish it, a room in the knights quarters will be prepared for you so you can reside within the palace."

'I just want to see Eliora.'

"Your kindness is appreciated Your Majest but I will have to think about it." Just offering me a high position doesn't make things right was the translation. "I'll excuse myself now."

With that Caelum left the king's office with new irritation. And here he'd been hoping to reclaim his spot beside the princess but the king was obviously against that. Maybe if he spoke to Eliora she could change his mind.

His heart beat sped up as he thought of seeing the princess. Right! Seeing her was the best choice.

He sped to the west part of the palace, to Eliora's quarters. The closer he got to her room, the more rapid his heart beat got in his chest. Finally he made it to the hallway where her room was located, only to be stopped by a female guard.

"No one is allowed beyond this point, please turn back." The female said, holding the pointed end of her blade to his neck. Her dark hair packed into a ponytail fluttered from side to side as she rose her sword.

"I'm the princess' former guard, she'll agree to see me." Caelum tried to reason with the female. As long as the princess still remembered him, he doubted she would reject meeting him.

"Please turn back or you'll be removed from the premises with force." The female spoke, completely ignoring his earlier comment.

"Just tell the princess Caelum is here to see her, she won't turn me away." He said feeling a little desperate. It wouldn't be hard to take the female down but he didn't want to cause a scene so close to Eliora's bedroom.

"I'll repeat myself for the last time, leave or you'll be forcefully removed from the premises." She said, her stance changing to an offensive one.

"Just go ask the princess, she'll want to see me!"

At that moment another female dressed like a guard joined them. This one was much larger than the one with the sword. Her frame packed with muscle, her facial features hard. She was much taller than the average female, almost at the same height as Caelum.

"What's all the ruckus Denise?" The large woman said as she stared at Caelum.

"I've told this man he isn't supposed to be here but he keeps insisting on passing." The one with the blade, Denise said.

"Another one of the princess' admirers? I haven't seen him before though." The large woman said, tilting her head to the side as she analysed Caelum. "You seem to be new around her so you might not be familiar with the rules. Allow me to break them down for you. No males are allowed within the vicinity of the princess' living quarters. By order of his Majesty the king, we're are to remove any rule breakers." Her voice was stern as she spoke.

"The princess knows me, I'm sure she'd want to see me if you at least informed her of my presence." Caelum tried once again.

"Of course you wouldn't leave that easily." The large woman tsked. "Help the gentleman out."

As the words left her mouth, two women grabbed his arms and forcefully dragged him out of the hallway. He tried forcibly freeing himself but the females were much stronger than they looked. Only until they reached the main waiting room did they release Caelum.

Servants gossipped as they watched the scene unfold.

'Another one trying to get to the princess.'

'Don't they ever learn.'

'How repulsive.'

For the second time today, Caelum felt fury rise in him. That damn king! This was taking it a bit too far. Forbidding men from going near the princess?

Dammit, did this mean he wouldn't be able to see Eliora?

"Caelum?" A familiar voice called from behind him.